Flexible shaft extender and method of using same

ABSTRACT

An extender for use in an electro-mechanical surgical system that includes a surgical attachment that may be detachably coupled to an electro-mechanical driver device via a flexible shaft. The extender is a substantially rigid extender that includes a proximal end that may be detachably coupled to a distal end of the flexible shaft. The extender also includes a distal end that may be detachably coupled to the surgical attachment. The extender also includes at least one rotatable drive shaft configured to engage and be secured with a respective rotatable drive shaft of the flexible shaft such that rotation of the respective rotatable drive shaft of the flexible shaft by the electro-mechanical driver device causes the at least one rotatable drive shaft of the extender to rotate, thereby rotating a complementary connector of the surgical attachment so as to operate the surgical attachment. The extender may include a memory unit and a data cable that transfers data from the memory unit to an electro-mechanical driver device. Additionally or alternatively, the extender may include a data cable that transfers data from a memory unit in the surgical attachment to the electro-mechanical driver device. Advantageously, the extender is autoclavable.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application Ser. No. 60/592,778, entitled “Flexible ShaftExtender,” filed on Jul. 30, 2004, which is expressly incorporatedherein in its entirety by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a surgical device, and moreparticularly to a flexible shaft extender, and a method for using same.

BACKGROUND

Various surgical systems are known in which a surgical attachment isattached to a flexible shaft. In these systems, a surgical attachmentmay typically be manipulated and/or positioned within the patient's bodyby the user holding the flexible shaft at a location near to thesurgical attachment. For surgical locations within the patient's bodythat are difficult to access, the user may be required to hold theflexible shaft at a substantial distance from its point of connection tothe surgical attachment. However, the flexibility of the flexible shaftmay hinder a user's ability to accurately position the surgicalattachment within the body. This may be problematic when the position ofthe surgical attachment is well within the patient's body and the useris forced to hold the flexible shaft at a substantial distance from itspoint of connection to the surgical attachment. The resulting lack ofaccuracy in positioning and manipulating the surgical attachment maynegatively impact the effectiveness of the surgical attachment inperforming the surgical procedure.

SUMMARY

The present invention relates to an extender for a flexible shaft of anelectro-mechanical surgical system. The flexible shaft extender issubstantially rigid. The flexible shaft extender is configured to becoupled at one end to the flexible shaft of an electro-mechanicalsurgical system and to be coupled at its other end to a surgicalattachment. Advantageously, the flexible shaft extender includes a pairof rotatable drive shafts that are configured to engage and be securedwith rotatable drive shafts of the flexible shaft of theelectro-mechanical surgical system. In this manner, rotation of therotatable drive shafts of the flexible shaft by an electro-mechanicaldriver device may cause the drive shafts of the flexible shaft extenderto rotate, thereby rotating the complementary connectors of the surgicalattachment so as to operate the surgical attachment.

Furthermore, the flexible shaft extender may include a data wiringharness or data cable which is configured to attach to and communicatewith the surgical attachment and the data cable of the flexible shaft.In this manner, data, such as usage data, operating data, etc. may beconveyed via the flexible shaft extender between the surgical attachmentand the data cable of the flexible shaft.

The present invention provides, in an example embodiment, for a surgicalattachment used in an electro-mechanical surgical system that iscoupleable to an electro-mechanical driver device via a flexible shaft,a substantially rigid extender that includes: a proximal end configuredto be detachably coupled to a distal end of the flexible shaft; a distalend configured to be detachably coupled to the surgical attachment; atleast one rotatable drive shaft configured to engage and be secured witha respective rotatable drive shaft of the flexible shaft such thatrotation of the respective rotatable drive shaft of the flexible shaftby the electro-mechanical driver device causes the at least onerotatable drive shaft of the extender to rotate, thereby rotating acomplementary connector of the surgical attachment so as to operate thesurgical attachment. The extender may be autoclavable. The extender mayinclude a memory unit. The memory unit may be configured to store one ormore of serial number data, an attachment type identifier data and ausage data. One or more of the serial number data and the ID data may beconfigured as read-only data. The serial number data may be datauniquely identifying the extender. The ID data may be data identifyingthe type of the extender. The usage data may represent a number of timesthe extender has been used. The extender may include a data cableconfigured to transfer data between the memory unit and theelectro-mechanical driver device. The extender may also include a datacable configured to transfer data-between a memory unit located in thesurgical attachment and the electro-mechanical driver device.

The present invention also provides, in an example embodiment, a methodfor performing a surgical procedure, the method comprising the steps of:detachably coupling a proximal end of an extender to a flexible shaft,the flexible shaft being coupled to an electro-mechanical driver device,the extender being substantially rigid; detachably coupling a distal endof the extender to a surgical attachment such that at least onerotatable drive shaft engages and is secured with a respective rotatabledrive shaft of the flexible shaft; rotating the respective rotatabledrive shaft of the flexible shaft by the electro-mechanical driverdevice so as to cause the at least one rotatable drive shaft of theextender to rotate; and rotating, by the at least one rotatable driveshaft of the extender, a complementary connector of the surgicalattachment so as to operate the surgical attachment. The method mayinclude the step of storing in a memory unit of the extender one or moreof serial number data, an attachment type identifier data and a usagedata. The method may include the step of configuring one or more of theserial number data and the ID data as read-only data. The serial numberdata may be data uniquely identifying the extender. The ID data may bedata identifying the type of the extender. The usage data may representa number of times the extender has been used. The method may include thestep of transferring, via a data cable located within the extender, databetween the memory unit and the electro-mechanical driver device. Themethod may include the step of storing in a memory unit of the surgicalattachment one or more of serial number data, an attachment typeidentifier data and a usage data. The method may also include the stepof transferring, via a data cable located within the extender, databetween the memory unit and the electro-mechanical driver device.

Additional features of the flexible shaft extender of the presentinvention are discussed in greater detail below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1(a) is a surgical system, according to an example embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 1(b) is a side view, partially in section, of a flexible shaft,according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1(c) is a cross-sectional view of the flexible shaft taken alongthe line 1(c)-1(c) shown in FIG. 1(b).

FIG. 1(d) is a rear end view of a first coupling of the flexible shaft,according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1(e) is a front end view of a second coupling of the flexibleshaft, according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a flexible shaft extender,according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 3(a) to 3(e) illustrate various views of the distal tip assembly,according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 4(a) to 4(d) illustrate various views of the distal end tip,according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 5(a) to 5(e) illustrate various views of the DLU pin sealingelement, according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 6(a) to 6(c) illustrate various views of the distal pinpositioner, according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 7(a) to 7(e) illustrate various views of the tube assembly,according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 8(a) to 8(c) illustrate various views of the tube, according to anexample embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 9(a) to 9(c) illustrate various views of the tube cap, accordingto an example embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 10(a) to 10(d) illustrate various views of the handle capassembly, according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 11(a) to 11(e) illustrate various views of the handle cap,according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 12(a) to 12(j) illustrate various views of the keyplate, accordingto an example embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 13(a) to 13(g) illustrate various views of the quick connectcollar, according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14(a) is an exploded view of the drive socket assembly, accordingto an example embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 15(a) to 15(f) illustrate various views of the drive socketspring, according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 16(a) and 16(b) illustrate various views of the drive socketsleeve, according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 17(a) to 17(c) illustrate various views of the drive shafts,according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 18(a) to 18(c) illustrate various views of the handle, accordingto an example embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1(a) is a surgical system 100, according to an example embodimentof the present invention. The surgical system 100 includes anelectro-mechanical driver device 110 detachably coupled to a surgicalattachment 120. Such an electro-mechanical driver device is describedin, for example, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/723,715, entitled“Electro-Mechanical Surgical Device,” filed on Nov. 28, 2000, now issuedas U.S. Pat. No. 6,793,652, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/836,781,entitled “Electro-Mechanical Surgical Device, filed on Apr. 17, 2001,and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/887,789, entitled“Electro-Mechanical Surgical Device,” filed on Jun. 22, 2001, each ofwhich is expressly incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. Theelectro-mechanical driver device 110 may include, for example, a remotepower console (RPC) 105, which includes a housing 115 having a frontpanel 125. Mounted on the front panel 125 are a display device 130 andindicators 135 a, 135 b. A connection slot 140 is also provided on thefront panel 125. The electro-mechanical driver device 110 may alsoinclude a video display 145, e.g., a television monitor, computermonitor, CRT or other viewing device, attached to the RPC 105. The videodisplay 145 may receive, for example, image signals (e.g., videosignals) from an imaging device 195. The electro-mechanical driverdevice 110 may also include a reception system 150 having a receiver ortransceiver 155 and circuitry 160 operable to convert signals receivedfrom the imaging device 195 into a form suitable for display on thevideo display 145. The reception system 150 may also include a memorydevice 165 for buffering and/or storing processed image data receivedfrom the imaging device 195.

A flexible shaft 170 may extend from the housing 115 and may bedetachably secured thereto via a first coupling 175. The distal end 180of the flexible shaft 170 may include a second coupling 185 adapted todetachably secure the surgical attachment 120 to the distal end 180 ofthe flexible shaft 170.

Disposed within the interior channel of the flexible shaft 170, andextending along the length thereof, may be rotatable shafts, steeringcables, one or more data transfer cables and power transfer leads, allof which terminate at the second coupling 185 at the distal end 180 ofthe flexible shaft 170. The electro-mechanical driver device 110 mayinclude a motor system (not shown), which includes one or more motorsconfigured to rotate the drive shafts and to apply tension or otherwisedrive the steering cables to thereby steer the distal end 180 of theflexible shaft 170.

Various types of surgical instruments or attachments 190 may be attachedto the distal end 180 of the flexible shaft 170. The surgical instrumentor attachment may be, for example, a surgical stapler, a surgicalcutter, a surgical stapler-cutter, a linear surgical stapler, a linearsurgical stapler-cutter, a circular surgical stapler, a circularsurgical stapler-cutter, a surgical clip applier, a surgical clipligator, a surgical clamping device, a vessel expanding device, a lumenexpanding device, a scalpel, a fluid delivery device or any other typeof surgical instrument. Such surgical instruments are described, forexample, in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/324,451, entitled “AStapling Device for Use with an Electromechanical Driver Device for Usewith Anastomosing, Stapling, and Resecting Instruments,” now issued asU.S. Pat. No. 6,315,184, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/324,452,entitled “Electro-mechanical Driver Device for Use with Anastomosing,Stapling, and Resecting Instruments,” now issued as U.S. Pat. No.6,443,973, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/351,534, entitled“Automated Surgical Stapling System,” now issued as U.S. Pat. No.6,264,087, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/510,926, entitled “AVessel and Lumen Expander Attachment for Use with an Electro-mechanicalDriver Device,” now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,378,061, U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 09/510,927, entitled “Electro-mechanical Driver andRemote Surgical Instruments Attachment Having Computer Assisted ControlCapabilities,” now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,716,233, U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 09/510,931, entitled “A Tissue Stapling Attachmentfor Use with an Electro-mechanical Driver Device,” now issued as U.S.Pat. No. 6,533,157, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/510,932,entitled “A Fluid Delivery Mechanism for Use with Anastomosing,Stapling, and Resecting Instruments,” now issued as U.S. Pat. No.6,491,201, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/510,933, entitled “AFluid Delivery Device for Use with Anastomosing, Stapling, and ResectingInstruments,” now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,488,197, each of which isexpressly incorporated herein in its entirety by reference thereto.

Referring to FIG. 1(b), there is seen a side view, partially in section,of the flexible shaft 170. According to an example embodiment, theflexible shaft 170 includes a tubular sheath 28, which may include acoating or other sealing arrangement to provide a fluid-tight sealbetween the interior channel 40 thereof and the environment. The sheath28 may be formed of a tissue-compatible, sterilizable elastomericmaterial. The sheath 28 may also be formed of a material that isautoclavable. Disposed within the interior channel 40 of the flexibleshaft 170, and extending along the entire length thereof, may be a firstrotatable drive shaft 30, a second rotatable drive shaft 32, a firststeering cable 34, a second steering cable 35, a third steering cable36, a fourth steering cable 37 and a data transfer cable 38. FIG. 1(c)is a cross-sectional view of the flexible shaft 170 taken along the line1(c)-1(c) shown in FIG. 1(b) and further illustrates the several cables30, 32, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38. Each distal end of the steering cables 34,35, 36, 37 is affixed to the distal end 180 of the flexible shaft 170.Each of the several cables 30, 32, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38 may be containedwithin a respective sheath.

Referring now to FIG. 1(d), there is seen a rear end view of the firstcoupling 175. The first coupling 175 includes a first connector 44, asecond connector 48, a third connector 52 and a fourth connector 56,each rotatably secured to the first coupling 175. Each of the connectors44, 48, 52, 56 includes a respective recess 46, 50, 54, 58. As shown inFIG. 1(d), each recess 46, 50, 54, 58 may be hexagonally shaped. Itshould be appreciated, however, that the recesses 46, 50, 54, 58 mayhave any shape and configuration to non-rotatably couple and rigidlyattach the connectors 44, 48, 52, 56 to respective drive shafts of themotor arrangement contained within the housing 12, as more fullydescribed below. It should be appreciated that complementary projectionsmay be provided on respective drive shafts of the motor arrangement tothereby drive the drive elements of the flexible shaft 170 as describedbelow. It should also be appreciated that the recesses may be providedon the drive shafts and complementary projections may be provided on theconnectors 44, 48, 52, 56. Any other coupling arrangement configured tonon-rotatably and releasably couple the connectors 44, 48, 52, 56 andthe drive shafts of the motor arrangement may be provided.

One of the connectors 44, 48, 52, 56 is non-rotatably secured to thefirst drive shaft 30, and another one of the connectors 44, 48, 52, 56is non-rotatably secured to the second drive shaft 32. The remaining twoof the connectors 44, 48, 52, 56 engage with transmission elementsconfigured to apply tensile forces on the steering cables 34, 35, 36, 37to thereby steer the distal end 180 of the flexible shaft 170. The datatransfer cable 38 is electrically and logically connected with the dataconnector 60. The data connector 60 includes, for example, electricalcontacts 62, corresponding to and equal in number to the number ofindividual wires contained in the data cable 38. The first coupling 175includes a key structure 42 to properly orient the first coupling 175 toa mating and complementary coupling arrangement disposed on the housing115. Such key structure 42 may be provided on either one, or both, ofthe first coupling 175 and the mating and complementary couplingarrangement disposed on the housing 115. The first coupling 175 mayinclude a quick-connect type connector, which may use, for example, asimple pushing motion to engage the first coupling 175 to the housing115. Seals may be provided in conjunction with any of the severalconnectors 44, 48, 52, 56, 60 to provide a fluid-tight seal between theinterior of the first coupling 175 and the environment.

Referring now to FIG. 1(e), there is seen a front end view of the secondcoupling 185 of the flexible shaft 170. The second coupling 185 includesa first connector 66 and a second connector 68, each being rotatablysecured to the second coupling 185 and each being non-rotatably securedto a distal end of a respective one of the first and second drive shafts30, 32. A quick-connect type fitting 64 is provided on the secondcoupling 185 for detachably securing the surgical instrument orattachment thereto. The quick-connect type fitting 64 may be, forexample, a rotary quick-connect type fitting, a bayonet type fitting,etc. A key structure 74 is provided on the second coupling 185 forproperly aligning the surgical instrument or attachment to the secondcoupling 185. The key structure or other arrangement for properlyaligning the surgical instrument or attachment to the flexible shaft 170may be provided on either one, or both, of the second coupling 185 andthe surgical instrument or attachment. In addition, the quick-connecttype fitting may be provided on the surgical instrument or attachment. Adata connector 70, having electrical contacts 72, is also provided inthe second coupling 185. Like the data connector 60 of the firstcoupling 175, the data connector 70 of the second coupling 185 includesthe contacts 72 electrically and logically connected to the respectivewires of the data transfer cable 38 and the contacts 62 of the dataconnector 60. Seals may be provided in conjunction with the connectors66, 68, 70 to provide a fluid-tight seal between the interior of thesecond coupling 185 and the environment.

Disposed within the housing 115 of the remote power console 105 areelectro-mechanical driver elements configured to drive the drive shafts30, 32 and the steering cables 34, 35, 36, 37 to thereby operate theelectro-mechanical surgical device 10 and the surgical instrument orattachment attached to the second coupling 185. Electric motors, eachoperating via a power source, may be disposed in the remote powerconsole 105. Any appropriate number of motors may be provided, and themotors may operate via battery power, line current, a DC power supply,an electronically controlled DC power supply, etc. It should also beappreciated that the motors may be connected to a DC power supply, whichis in turn connected to line current and which supplies the operatingcurrent to the motors.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a flexible shaft extender 10,according to an example embodiment of the present invention. Theflexible shaft extender 10 provides a substantially rigid handle thatattaches to the second coupling 185 at the distal end 180 of theflexible shaft 170. The flexible shaft extender 10 includes a distal tipassembly 201, a tube assembly 202, a distal end O-ring 203, a handle capassembly 204, a pair of drive shafts 205, a retention pin 206, a handle207, a handle screw 208, a handle O-ring 209, a pair of tubes (e.g., ofteflon) 210, a bearing block 211 and a pin block 212.

FIGS. 3(a) to 3(e) illustrate various views of the distal tip assembly201. As shown in FIG. 3(a), the distal tip assembly 201 includes adistal end tip 301, a pair of bearings 302, a pair of sealing elements303, a distal pin positioner 304, a DLU pin sealing element 305 and adowel pin 306. The distal tip assembly 201 is configured to have asurgical attachment attached thereto. When the flexible shaft extender10 is assembled, the distal tip assembly 201 is attached to the distalend of the tube assembly 202.

FIGS. 4(a) to 4(d) illustrate various views of the distal end tip 301.The distal end tip 301 includes two stepped bores 3011 and 3012. Inaddition, the distal end tip 301 includes a centrally-located threadedbore 3013. In addition, the distal end tip 301 includes a rectangularlongitudinal opening 3014.

FIGS. 5(a) to 5(e) illustrate various views of the DLU pin sealingelement 305. FIGS. 6(a) to 6(c) illustrate various views of the distalpin positioner 304.

Referring back to FIGS. 3(b) and 3(d), there is shown the variouscomponents of the distal tip assembly 201 in the assembled condition. Asshown in FIG. 3(b), the pair of bearings 302 are inserted within the twostepped bores 3011 and 3012 of the distal end tip 301. As shown in FIGS.3(d) and 3(e), the distal pin positioner 304 is inserted into the distalend tip 301 and fits within the rectangular longitudinal opening 3014and is flush with the distal-most surface of the distal end tip. The DLUpin sealing element 305 maintains the distal pin positioner 304 withinthe rectangular longitudinal opening 3014 of the distal end tip 301.

FIGS. 7(a) to 7(e) illustrate various views of the tube assembly 202.For instance, FIG. 7(e) is an exploded view of the tube assembly 202.The tube assembly 202 includes a tube 901, a tube cap 902, a wireretention tube 903, a screw 904 and a distal end O-ring 905.

FIGS. 8(a) to 8(c) illustrate various views of the tube 901. FIGS. 9(a)to 9(c) illustrate various views of the tube cap 902. The tube cap 902may include first second, third and fourth orifices 9021, 9022, 9023 and9024 and a central orifice 9025.

Referring back to FIG. 7(d), there is shown the various components ofthe tube assembly 202 in the assembled condition. As shown in FIG. 7(d),the tube 901 may be welded to the tube cap 902. The wire retention tube903 is arranged longitudinally within the tube 901 and may be welded tothe tube cap 902 so as to be longitudinally aligned with the orifice9022 of the tube cap 902. The screw 904 is inserted through the centralorifice 9025 of the tube cap. The distal end O-ring 905 is retainedaround the screw 904 in a distal recess of the tube cap 902.

FIGS. 10(a) to 10(d) illustrate various views of the handle cap assembly204. FIG. 10(a) is an exploded view of the handle cap assembly 204. Thehandle cap assembly 204 includes a handle cap 1601, a keyplate 1602, aquick connect collar 1603, a pair of bearings 1604, a pair of proximalsealing elements 1605, a screw 1606, a wiring harness assembly 1607, anoutboard shim 1608, an inboard shim 1609, a spring 1610, a handle O-ring1611, a drive socket assembly 1612, a drive socket spring 1613, a quickconnect spring 1614, a bearing spacer 1615 and potting 1616.

The wiring harness assembly 1607 includes at its proximal end a devicehaving a connector (e.g., for connection to the data transfer cable 38of the flexible shaft 170), a memory unit 174 that may store varioustypes of data, and one or more wires or cables extending distallytherefrom. An exemplary memory unit 174 is described in, for example,U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/723,715, entitled“Electro-Mechanical Surgical Device,” filed on Nov. 28, 2000, U.S.patent application Ser. No. 09/836,781, entitled “Electro-MechanicalSurgical Device, filed on Apr. 17, 2001, and U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 09/887,789, entitled “Electro-Mechanical Surgical Device,”filed on Jun. 22, 2001, each of which, as stated above, is expresslyincorporated herein in its entirety by reference. For instance, thememory unit 174 may store, for instance, serial number data 180, anattachment type identifier data 182 and a usage data 184. Memory unit174 may additionally store other data. Both the serial number data 180and the ID data 182 may be configured as read-only data. In the exampleembodiment, serial number data 180 is data uniquely identifying theparticular flexible shaft extender, whereas the ID data 182 is dataidentifying the type of the flexible shaft extender, such as, forexample, a flexible shaft extender of a given length. The usage data 184represents usage of the particular flexible shaft extender, such as, forexample, the number of times the flexible shaft extender has been used.

It should be appreciated that the flexible shaft extender 10 may bedesigned and configured to be used a single time or multiple times.Accordingly, the usage data 184 may be used to determine whether theflexible shaft extender 10 has been used and whether the number of useshas exceeded the maximum number of permitted uses. An attempt to use theflexible shaft extender 10 after the maximum number of permitted useshas been reached may generate an ERROR condition.

FIGS. 11(a) to 11(e) illustrate various views of the handle cap 1601.FIGS. 12(a) to 12(j) illustrate various views of the keyplate 1602.FIGS. 13(a) to 13(g) illustrate various views of the quick connectcollar 1603.

FIG. 14(a) is an exploded view of the drive socket assembly 1612. Thedrive socket assembly 1612 includes a drive socket 2601 and a drivesocket sleeve 2602. FIGS. 15(a) to 15(f) illustrate various views of thedrive socket spring 2601. The drive socket spring 2601 has alongitudinal slit 2702 at its distal end and a centrally-disposed,longitudinally-arranged bore 2701. FIGS. 16(a) and 16(b) illustratevarious views of the drive socket sleeve 2602.

Referring back to FIG. 10(b), there is shown the various components ofthe handle cap assembly 204 in the assembled condition. As shown in FIG.10(b), the keyplate 1602 is mounted to the proximal surface of thehandle cap 1601 by the screw 1606. The quick connect collar 1603 isretained against the proximal surface of the handle cap 1601 by being inlocked engagement between the keyplate 1602 and the handle cap 1601. Thequick connect collar 1603 is configured to be detachably coupled to thesecond coupling 185 at the distal end 180 of the flexible shaft 170. Thepair of bearings 1604 fit within corresponding orifices of the handlecap 1601. One each of the bearing spacers 1615, the proximal sealingelements 1605 and the bearings 1604 are mounted on a respective drivesocket 2601, and operate to rotatably retain the drive socket 2601within respective orifices of the handle cap 1601. The wiring harness1607 is retained within the handle cap assembly 204 such that a proximalend is accessible via an opening in the keyplate 1602, and a distal endextends to the distal end of the tube assembly 202 and out of an orificeof the distal tip assembly 201. In this manner, data may be conveyed viathe wiring harness 1607 from a surgical attachment attached to thedistal tip assembly 201 to the data transfer cable 38 within theflexible shaft 170.

FIGS. 17(a) to 17(c) illustrate various views of the drive shafts 205.In the example embodiments discussed and illustrated herein, theflexible shaft extender 10 includes two drive shafts 205, though anynumber, e.g., one or more, drive shafts may be employed. The driveshafts 205 are rotatable within the flexible shaft extender 10 so as torotate a respective component of the surgical attachment. The proximalends of the drive shafts 205 are insertable within and rotatably securedwithin the bore 2701 of the drive socket 2601.

FIGS. 18(a) to 18(c) illustrate various views of the handle 207. Whenthe flexible shaft extender 10 is assembled, the rotatable drive shafts205 are positioned within the tubes 210, which may be made of amaterial, e.g., teflon, that minimizes the friction between therotatable drive shafts 205 and the tubes 210.

In use, the quick connect collar 1603 is attached to the second coupling185 at the distal end 180 of the flexible shaft 170. In this manner, thefirst connector 66 and the second connector 68 of the second coupling185, that engage and are rotatably secured with first and secondrotatable drive shafts 30 and 32, may also engage and be rotatablysecured with the drive socket assembly 1612, which in turn engages andis rotatably secured with the proximal ends of the drive shafts 205.

In addition, a surgical attachment 190 may be attached to the distal tipassembly 201. In this manner, the distal ends of the drive shafts 205may engage and be rotatably secured with complementary connectors of thesurgical attachment 190. Rotation of the first and second rotatabledrive shafts 30 and 32 of the flexible shaft 170 by theelectro-mechanical driver device 110 cause the drive shafts 205 of theflexible shaft extender 10 to rotate, which thereby rotate thecomplementary connectors of the surgical attachment 190 so as to operatethe surgical attachment 190. Furthermore, data, such as usage data,operating data, etc. may be conveyed between the surgical attachment 190and the data transfer cable 38 of the flexible shaft 170, and from thememory unit 174 of the flexible shaft extender 10 to the data transfercable 38 of the flexible shaft 170.

The flexible shaft extender 10 provides a substantially rigid devicethat may be inserted by a user into a surgical site. The flexible shaftextender 10 may provide a user with improved control of the surgicalattachment 190, as compared to the use of, e.g., a surgical attachment190, that is attached directly to, e.g., the flexible shaft 170. Forinstance, when a surgical attachment is attached to a conventionalflexible shaft, the surgical attachment is typically manipulated and/orpositioned within the patient's body by the user holding the flexibleshaft at a location near to the surgical attachment. For surgicallocations within the patient's body that are difficult to access, theuser may be required to hold the flexible shaft at a substantialdistance from its point of connection to the surgical attachment.However, the flexibility of the flexible shaft may hinder a user'sability to accurately position the surgical attachment within the body.This may be problematic when the position of the surgical attachment iswell within the patient's body and the user is forced to hold theflexible shaft at a substantial distance from its point of connection tothe surgical attachment. The resulting lack of accuracy in positioningand manipulating the surgical attachment may negatively impact theeffectiveness of the surgical attachment in performing the surgicalprocedure. However, the present invention according to variousembodiments thereof, provides a substantially rigid extender between thesurgical attachment and the flexible shaft. In this manner, a surgicalattachment may be manipulated and/or positioned within the patient'sbody by the user holding the extender. Thus, for any surgical locationswithin a patient's body, and particularly for those surgical locationsthat are difficult to access, the user may hold the extender at asubstantial distance from its point of connection to the surgicalattachment without the flexibility of the flexible shaft hindering theuser's ability to accurately position the surgical attachment within thebody. Even when the position of the surgical attachment is well withinthe patient's body and the user is forced to hold the extender at asubstantial distance from its point of connection to the surgicalattachment, the substantially rigid extender may enable improved controlby the user of the surgical attachment when positioning or manipulatingsame. The resulting improvement of accuracy in positioning andmanipulating the surgical attachment may improve the effectiveness ofthe surgical attachment in performing the surgical procedure.

Furthermore, the flexible shaft extender 10 may be autoclavable byvirtue of the material with which it is constructed, as well as thesealing components that prevent moisture from entering the flexibleshaft extender 10. When autoclavable, the flexible shaft extender may bere-used, e.g., for different patients, different types of surgicalprocedures and/or with different surgical attachments, thereby providinga significant cost savings relative to single-use devices.

Thus, the several aforementioned objects and advantages of the presentinvention are most effectively attained. Those skilled in the art willappreciate that numerous modifications of the exemplary embodimentdescribed hereinabove may be made without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention. Although various exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention has been described and disclosed in detail herein, itshould be understood that this invention is in no sense limited thereby.

1. In an electro-mechanical surgical system including a surgicalattachment detachably coupleable to an electro-mechanical driver devicevia a flexible shaft, a substantially rigid extender comprising: aproximal end configured to be detachably coupled to a distal end of theflexible shaft; a distal end configured to be detachably coupled to thesurgical attachment; at least one rotatable drive shaft configured toengage and be secured with a respective rotatable drive shaft of theflexible shaft such that rotation of the respective rotatable driveshaft of the flexible shaft by the electro-mechanical driver devicecauses the at least one rotatable drive shaft of the extender to rotate,thereby rotating a complementary connector of the surgical attachment soas to operate the surgical attachment.
 2. The extender of claim 1,wherein the extender is autoclavable.
 3. The extender of claim 1,wherein the extender further comprises a memory unit.
 4. The extender ofclaim 3, wherein the memory unit is configured to store one or more ofserial number data, an attachment type identifier data and a usage data.5. The extender of claim 4, wherein one or more of the serial numberdata and the ID data is configured as read-only data.
 6. The extender ofclaim 5, wherein the serial number data is data uniquely identifying theextender.
 7. The extender of claim 5, wherein the ID data is dataidentifying the type of the extender.
 8. The extender of claim 5,wherein the usage data represents a number of times the extender hasbeen used.
 9. The extender of claim 3, wherein the extender furthercomprises a data cable configured to transfer data between the memoryunit and the electro-mechanical driver device.
 10. The extender of claim1, wherein the extender further comprises a data cable configured totransfer data between a memory unit located in the surgical attachmentand the electro-mechanical driver device.
 11. A method for performing asurgical procedure, the method comprising the steps of: detachablycoupling a proximal end of an extender to a flexible shaft, the flexibleshaft being coupled to an electro-mechanical driver device, the extenderbeing substantially rigid; detachably coupling a distal end of theextender to a surgical attachment such that at least one rotatable driveshaft engages and is secured with a respective rotatable drive shaft ofthe flexible shaft; rotating the respective rotatable drive shaft of theflexible shaft by the electro-mechanical driver device so as to causethe at least one rotatable drive shaft of the extender to rotate; androtating, by the at least one rotatable drive shaft of the extender, acomplementary connector of the surgical attachment so as to operate thesurgical attachment.
 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising thestep of storing in a memory unit of the extender one or more of serialnumber data, an attachment type identifier data and a usage data. 13.The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of configuring oneor more of the serial number data and the ID data as read-only data. 14.The method of claim 13, wherein the serial number data is data uniquelyidentifying the extender.
 15. The method of claim 13, wherein the IDdata is data identifying the type of the extender.
 16. The method ofclaim 13, wherein the usage data represents a number of times theextender has been used.
 17. The method of claim 12, further comprisingthe step of transferring, via a data cable located within the extender,data between the memory unit and the electro-mechanical driver device.18. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of storing in amemory unit of the surgical attachment one or more of serial numberdata, an attachment type identifier data and a usage data.
 19. Themethod of claim 18, further comprising the step of transferring, via adata cable located within the extender, data between the memory unit andthe electro-mechanical driver device.